Automatic-valve-operating device



S. FUDALSKI AUTOMATIC VALVE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1923 Flag.

Sept, 1, 1925.

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

STANISLAW FUDALSKI, 0F GLENWHITE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC-VALVE-OPERATIN G DEVICE.

Application filed November 28, 1923. Serial' No. 677,468.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known'th'at I, STANisLAw FUDALSKI, a citizen of Poland, residing at Glenwhite, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic-Valve-Operating Devices, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic valve operating devices especially adapted for iire sprinkler systems.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device that will automatically operate the control for a sprinkler system when fire occurs in the vicinity thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned type which is of exceedingly simple construction and one that may be manufactui-ed at a very nominal cost. r l i Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during Vthe course of the vfollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, f

Figure 1 is a partly sectional and partly side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a room with a sprinkler system arranged therein and with a portion ofthe automatic operating device which controls the valve that is operatively connected with the said sprinkler system,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sprinkler system and valve operating device associated therewith and in readiness for operationl should a` lire break out vwithin the room in which this system is arranged,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the valve which controls the flow of water through the sprinkler system andthe operating device associated with the said valve,

Figure 4`is a top plan view of Fig. 3,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken upon line VV of Fig. 4,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of a friction element which forms a part of this invention, and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken upon line VII-VH of'Figure 6.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is `shown a. preferredembodinient of this invention, the numeral 5 designates the room within which this sprinkler system and automatic valve operating device are arranged. It is to be understood that' thisiooni may be employed for any `purpose desired,`such as a garage, warehouse, store, living quarters, etc. theceiling 5, asby the pipe straps 6, is the sprinkler system which embodies the piping 7 Vand theisuitably spaced sprinkler heads 8. ThisV piping 7 is provided with a supply Suitably secured to pipe 7a which is suitably connected to the piping designated by the numeral 7 by means of .a valvehousing 9 which is provided with a rotary plug valve 10 positioned therein. 1t is to be understood that this valve housing 9 and rotary plug 10 may be of any well known form.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be seen that this rotary valveplug 10 is provided with a projecting stem 11 to which is suitably secured the vertically extending valve operating arm 12 which is provided with an enlarged apertured portion 13 adjacent its outer end. It is` to be understood that whenl the valve plug'operating arm 12 is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1l to 4 incluextreme upper 0r outer end'of the valve.op-.

erating rod 12 is provided with a suitable extension 17 to which is journaled a grooved wheel 1S. Suitably connected to the aperture in the enlarged portion 13 ofthe valve operatingar'm 12 is a coil spring 19 which extends to a bracket 20 which is clamped to the portion of the piping 7 spaced slightly laterally from the valve housing 9. It is intended that when the valve operating arm 12 is in its vertically extending position, the

spring 19`will be under tension and will be endeavoring to move the arm 12 into a horizontally extending position against the stop 21 which is carried by the valve housing 9. 'It willbe seen by this arrangement that the spring 19 is endeavoring to move the valve Y but will not rotate freely.

to its open'position and the latch member 16 is retaining the said valve in its closed position.

Extending around the room, in any desired manner, and supported by the eye screws 22is a continuous cord 23 `which is connected at one end to one of the convolutions of the coil spring 19 as illustrated in Fig. 8. lt will be seen that the point of connection between the cord V23 and the spring 19Yis spaced from the point of connection of the spring 19 with theapertured enlarged portion 13 of the valve operating arm 12. Spaced a suitable distance from the valve operating arm 12 is a bracket 2e which is suitably secured to the ceiling 5a and carries the rotatable spool or grooved pulley 25. lt is intended that the bolt 25, which connects the spool or grooved pulley 25 to the bracket 24 may be Vso adjusted that the said element 25 will be permitted to rotate, The cord 23 is intended to be passed around this spool or grooved pulley wheel 25 any desired number of times and that this connection provides a frictional holding means for the said cord to relieve a portion of the pull of the Lspring 19. The opposite end of thiscord 23 is pro-v vided with a depending weight 27 which operates to hold the said cord in a taut or stretched condition. It is intended that the weight 2? besufticient to exert a pull upon the spring 19 which will cause the portion of the same, designated bythe numeral 19a and which is positioned between the point of connection of the cord 23vto thespring 19, in a slack or sagging condition. It will be seen with this arrangement, thatthe cord 23 will prevent the spring 19 from exerting a pulling force on the valve operating arm 12. The latch member 15 is provided with an aperturedear15a'to which is connected the' cord 151? which passes upwardly and around the grooved wheel`18 and is suitably connected to the section 19aof the coil spring 19 i j The operation of the device embodying' this invention is as follows Y With all of the elements arranged in their various positions, as illustrated in the different views, the system is in 'readiness for operation. Should a iire break out in the room 5', the flames therefrom will burnthe cord 23 and sever the same. Nhen this cord is severed in thismanner, the pull of the weight 27 is rem'ovedjand the portion of the cord connected to the spring 19 will be al lowed to become slack and the section 19 of the spring 19 will straighten out or be placed under tension. This straightening or tensioning of the section 19awill exert a pull upon the cord 15b and Will move the latch member 15 out of engagement with the pin 16 *whereupon the spring 19 will move the valve operating arm 12 into a horizontally extending position for causing the passageway through the rotary plug valve 10 to aline with the passage 9a of the valve housing 9 and will allow water to enter the piping 7 from which it will be discharged up'on the fire through the sprinkler heads 8. It will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that the various elements may be returned to their inoperative positions after the lire has been extinguished and a rnew cord may be arranged in place of the old one.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken vas a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, u

size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention 0r the scope of the subjoined claims.

-Having thus described the invention, I claim 1.l In an automatic lfire sprinkler, a sprinkler pipe, a valve for said pipe having a` valve lever, a tension spring having one end connected to saidjvalve lever and its other end connected to a lifted point and constantly urging said lever to valve opening position, a latch holding said lever against movementl by said spring, a tension element having one end connected to the spring between itsends and acting on the spring away from the iixed point of spring attachment to relieve the tensionon the portion of the spring adjacent the lever, said tension element being severable by lire in its vicinity, and means connecting the latch tothe spring and .connected to the spring between the ylever and the point of connection'of the tension element whereby primary movement of the spring will free the latch and releasey the lever. Y

2. In an automatic fire sprinkler, a sprinkler pipe, a valve for said pipe having a valve lever, a tension spring having one end 4connected to .said valve leve-r and its other -end conne'ctedto aglizred point and constantly urging saidl lever -to valve opening position, a latch holding said lever against movementbyqsaid spring, a tension element having one end connected to the spring'between its ends and acting on the spring away from the fixed' point of spring attachment to relieve the tension on the por- Ation of the spring adjacent the lever, said tension element being severable by irefin its vicinity, meansconnecting the latch vto the spring and connected to the spring between the lever and the point of connection of the tension elenrentwhereby primary movement of the spring will free the latch and release the lever, and a guide pulley carried by the end of the lever and over which said means runs.

'In testimony whereof I aiiixmy signature.

STANISLAVV FUDALSKI.

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